Belt loader extension ramp

ABSTRACT

A belt loader assembly includes a belt loader and an extension assembly. The belt loader includes a conveyor belt and a frame. The extension assembly includes an extension portion, a connection portion, and a bumper portion. The extension portion includes a plate having a first end portion and a second end portion. The connection portion is engaged with the first end portion of the plate and with the frame of the belt loader. The bumper portion is engaged with the second end portion of the plate. An extension assembly includes a plate having a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second end portion. The extension assembly further includes a bumper portion engaged to the plate at the second portion. The bumper portion includes a bumper. A connection portion is engaged with the first end portion and adapted for engagement with a belt loader.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/920,467, filed Mar. 27, 2007, which applicationis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to belt loaders for cargocarriers, and more particularly, to belt loaders for airplanes.

BACKGROUND

The rapid transportation of cargo has become a necessity in today'ssociety. More and more packages are being sent throughout the countryvia overnight couriers. One typical way in which the couriers can getpackages to faraway destinations in such a short period of time is byaircraft. While airplanes have been used for quite some time totransport cargo, there are some disadvantages associated with loadingcargo onto airplanes.

Typically, belt loaders are used to get cargo from the ground level upto the cargo door of an airplane. These belt loaders consist primarilyof a conveyor belt that is angled toward the cargo door of the airplane.However, due to repeated damage to airplanes during the loading of cargoresulting from airplanes hitting the belt loaders in response to wind,many couriers require belt loaders to be positioned between 1 to 4inches from the cargo door. As a result of this requirement, workersloading cargo must reach outside of the cargo door of the airplane toremove cargo from the conveyor belt of the belt loader. In addition toreaching outside of the airplane door, workers must also reach down topick up the cargo since the cargo is typically positioned slightly lowerthan the floor level of the airplane. These strenuous repeated movementsof reaching out and down for cargo often result in back injuries,particularly in the lower back. In addition to lower back injuries, theposition of the belt loader can also result in damage to cargo. As thebelt loader is positioned around 4 inches from the cargo door, there areoccasions when cargo will come off the conveyor belt and fall to theground before it can be grabbed by the cargo loader. Moreover, in aneffort to position the belt loader closer to the airplane, the beltloader may accidentally hit the airplane, causing damage to both thebelt loader and the airplane.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a belt loader assemblyhaving a belt loader and an extension assembly. The belt loader includesa conveyor belt and a frame. The extension assembly includes anextension portion, a connection portion, and a bumper portion. Theextension portion includes a plate having a first end portion and asecond end portion. The connection portion is engaged with the first endportion of the plate and with the frame of the belt loader. The bumperportion is engaged with the second end portion of the plate.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an extensionassembly for a belt loader. The extension assembly includes a platehaving a first end portion and an oppositely disposed second endportion. The extension assembly further includes a bumper portionengaged to the plate at the second portion. The bumper portion includesa bumper. A connection portion is engaged with the first end portion andadapted for engagement with a belt loader.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method foroperating an extension assembly of a belt loader assembly. The methodincludes pivoting an extension assembly of a belt loader assembly aboutan axis of a pin member that is connectedly engaged with a belt loader.The extension assembly is pivoted such that the extension assembly is ina transport position. A front end of the belt loader is positionedadjacent to a cargo door of a transport vehicle. The extension assemblyis pivoted about the axis of the pin member such that an end portion ofa plate of the extension assembly is disposed through the cargo door ofthe transport vehicle.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows. These aspects can relate to individual features and tocombinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoinggeneral description and the following detailed description are exemplaryand explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad concepts uponwhich the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a belt loader assembly having features that areexamples of aspects in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a plate suitable for use with the belt loaderassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the plate of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the plate of FIG. 3 and a spacer suitable foruse with the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the spacer of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is top view of the spacer of FIG. 5

FIG. 8 is a top view of a mounting bracket suitable for use with thebelt loader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a spacer assembly suitable for usewith the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1 taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a connection portion of the belt loaderassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an arm of the connection portion of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a pin member suitable for use with the beltloader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the pin member of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a bumper portion suitable for use with thebelt loader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a top view of a bracket suitable for use with the belt loaderassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a belt loader assembly with the extensionassembly in a transport position.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a belt loader assembly with the extensionassembly in a loading position.

FIG. 18 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of an extension platesuitable for use in the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the extension plate of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of an extension platehaving a hinge member suitable for use in the belt loader assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the extension plate of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the belt loader assembly with the extensionplate of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the belt loader assembly with the extensionplate of FIG. 20 in the transport position.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a guard suitable for use with the belt loaderassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 is a top view of the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1 with theguard of FIG. 24 installed

FIG. 26 is a side view of the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1 with theguard of FIG. 24 installed.

FIG. 27 is a top view of an extender suitable for use with the beltloader assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the extender of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a top view of the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1 with theextender of FIG. 27 installed.

FIG. 30 is a side view of the belt loader assembly of FIG. 1 with theextender of FIG. 27 installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of thepresent disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a belt loader assembly, generallydesignated 10, is shown. Although the belt loader assembly 10 will bedescribed in the present disclosure with regard to loading and unloadingcargo from an airplane, it will be understood that the scope of thepresent disclosure is not limited to airplanes as the belt loaderassembly 10 could be used with many different types of transportingvehicles. In addition, it will be understood that the term cargo as usedherein could include luggage, packages, etc.

The belt loader assembly 10 includes a belt loader, generally designated12, and an extension assembly, generally designated 14. Belt loaders 12,such as that shown in FIG. 1, are well known in the art and arefrequently used to convey cargo onto vehicles such as airplanes. Typicalbelt loaders 12 include a conveyor belt 16 and a frame 18. The conveyorbelt 16 is usually driven by a hydraulic or electric motor around aplurality of rollers, which are disposed on opposite ends of the frame18. The frame 18 includes a top surface 20, over which the conveyor belt16 is driven, and two oppositely disposed sidewalls 22.

The extension assembly 14 includes an extension portion, generallydesignated 24, a bumper portion, generally designated 26 (shown in FIG.2), and a connection portion, generally designated 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the extension portion 24 of the subjectembodiment will now be described. The extension portion 24 includes aplate 30 having a first end portion 32 and a second end portion 34. Theplate 30 defines a bend 36 (shown as a dashed line in FIG. 3) disposedbetween the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34. As bestshown in FIG. 4, the bend 36 provides an angle α between the first endportion 32 and the second end portion 34 of the plate 30. In a preferredembodiment, the bend 36 is disposed midway along a length L of the plate30. In a preferred embodiment, the length L is 16 inches. In theembodiment shown, the angle α is approximately 15 degrees. It can beappreciated, however, that the angle α may be smaller or larger for someapplications and for different loaders and/or airplanes. The plate 30can be manufactured from a rigid material such as steel, aluminum, orother common materials. While the plate 30 has been described as asingle angled plate, it will be understood that the scope of the presentdisclosure is not limited to the extension portion having a singleangled plate as multiple planar plates could also be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5-9, the plate 30 further includes at leastone mounting hole 37, which extends through the plate 30, disposed oneach side of the first end portion 32. In the embodiment shown, twomounting holes 37 are provided on each side of the first end portion 32.The mounting holes 37 are used to mount a spacer, generally designated38, to each side of the first end portion 32 of the plate 30. The spacer38 includes a first side 40, having an upper surface 42 and a lowersurface 44, and a second side 46, where the second side 46 is at anangle β to the first side 40. In a preferred embodiment, the angle β is30 degrees. The first side 40 of the spacer 38 includes a mounting slot48 that extends through the first side 40. With the upper surface 42 ofthe spacer 38 abutting the plate 30, fasteners 50 (e.g., screws, bolts,rivets, etc.) are inserted through the mounting holes 37 in the plate 30and through the mounting slot 48 in the first side 40 of the spacer 38in order to attach the spacer 38 to the plate 30. While a variety ofdifferent types of fasteners 50 could be used to attach the spacer 38 tothe plate 30, flat head screws are used in the embodiment shown. Afterinsertion of the fasteners 50 through the mounting holes 37 and themounting slot 48, the fasteners 50 are then threaded into threaded holes52 in a bracket 54 that abuts the lower surface 44 of the first side 40of the spacer 38.

In an alternative embodiment, however, the first side 40 of the spacer38 could include a plurality of threaded holes rather than the mountingslot 48. In this embodiment, the fasteners 50 could be threadedlyengaged with the threaded holes in the spacer 38. A shim could be usedbetween the upper surface 42 of the first side 40 of the spacer 38 andthe plate 30.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the second end portion 34 of the plate 30defines at least one handle 56. In the embodiment shown, the handle 56is an oblong opening through which the plate 30 can be grasped. In apreferred embodiment, there are two handles 56 in the second end portion34 of the plate, with one handle 56 being on each side of the second endportion 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-13, the connection portion 28 of the extensionassembly 14 will be described. The connection portion 28 includes atleast one arm 58 having a first end region 60 and a second end region62. The arm 58 of the connection portion 28 can be manufactured fromsome type of rigid material (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.). In apreferred embodiment, the connection portion 28 of the extensionassembly 14 includes two arms 58. In the embodiment shown, each arm 58includes a top surface 64 and a side 66, with the side 66 being aboutperpendicular to the top surface 64. The first end region 60 of the arm58 forms an angle γ with the second end region 62 of the arm 58. In theembodiment shown, the angle γ is approximately 15 degrees. It will beunderstood, however, that the scope of the present disclosure is notlimited to the first end region 60 forming an angle γ with the secondend region 62.

The first end region 60 of each arm 58 is in connected engagement withthe first end portion 32 of the plate 30. The first end region 60 isfastened to the plate 30 by a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws,bolts, rivets, etc.), a welded joint, or a combination thereof. Thesecond end region 62 of each arm 58 is pivotally mounted to the frame 18of the belt loader 12.

In the depicted embodiment, a pin member 68 is mounted to the second endregion 62 of each arm 58 by a plurality of fasteners 70 (e.g., screws,bolts, rivets, etc.). While a variety of different types of fasteners 70could be used to mount the pin member 68 to the second end region 62 ofthe arm 58, flat head screws are used in the embodiment shown. Theplurality of fasteners 70, which extend through a slot 72 (shown in FIG.11) in the side 66 of the second end region 62 of the arm 58, is inthreaded engagement with threaded holes 73 in the pin member 68. Theslot 72 allows for slight lateral adjustments in the position of the pinmember 68 with respect to the arm 58.

The pin member 68 engages one of a plurality of pre-existing holes 74(shown in FIG. 2) in the sidewall 22 of the frame 18 of the belt loader12. The holes 74 in the sidewall 22 of the belt loader 12 are providedby belt loader manufacturers as maintenance holes for the adjustment ofthe conveyor belt 16 when the belt loader 12 is not in service. As suchholes 74 are provided with most belt loaders 12, no modification of theframe 18 of the belt loader 12 is required to assemble the extensionassembly 14 to the belt loader 12. In a preferred embodiment, the pinmember 68 is a bushing. The bushing is used as the pin member 68 in apreferred embodiment in order to reduce wear associated with the pivotalengagement between the pin member 68 and the hole 74.

While the pin member 68 has been shown and described as being connectedto the connection portion 28, it will be understood that the scope ofthe present disclosure is not limited to the pin member 68 being mountedto the connection portion 28 as the pin member 68 could alternatively bemounted to the sidewall 22 of the frame 18 of the belt loader 12.However, this would require modification of the frame 18 of the beltloader 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 14 and 15, the bumper portion 26 of theextension assembly 14 will now be described. The bumper portion 26 ofthe extension assembly 14 is mounted to the second end portion 34 of theplate 30. The bumper portion 26 includes a bumper 76 and a mountingbracket 78.

In a preferred embodiment, the bumper 76 is made from a flexiblematerial such as rubber. In the embodiment shown, the bumper 76 is madefrom a piece of ¾-inch diameter radiator hose as measured at the innerdiameter of the radiator hose. It can be appreciated, however, thatother shock absorbing or impact absorbing devices or materials may beused as the bumper 76. The bumper 76 includes a plurality of mountingopenings 80 disposed along the axial length of the bumper 76. Themounting openings 80 in the bumper 76 correspond to a plurality ofthru-holes 82 in the second end portion 34 of the plate 30.

The mounting bracket 78 includes a plurality of threaded mounting holes84 that correspond to the mounting openings 80 in the bumper 76 and thethru-holes 82 in the second end portion 34 of the plate 30. To attachthe bumper 76 to the second end portion 34 of the plate 30, the mountingbracket 78 is inserted into the bumper 76 such that the threadedmounting holes 84 are aligned with the mounting openings 80 in thebumper 76. A plurality of fasteners 86 (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets,etc.) are inserted through the thru-holes 82 in the plate 30 and throughthe mounting openings 80 in the bumper 76. While a variety of differenttypes of fasteners 86 could be used to mount the bumper 76 to the secondend portion 34 of the plate 30, flat head screws are used in theembodiment shown. After insertion of the fasteners 86 through thethru-holes 82 and the mounting openings 80, the fasteners 86 are thenthreaded into the threaded mounting holes 84 in mounting bracket 78,which is disposed inside the bumper 76.

As discussed above, cargo carriers typically require that belt loaders12 be positioned such that a front end 88 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 16) ofthe belt loader 12 is around 4 inches from the cargo door of theairplane in a horizontal direction. This requirement is an attempt bythe cargo carriers to minimize potential damage to the airplane causedby the airplane hitting the belt loader 12 due to wind. With the frontend 88 of the belt loader 12 positioned around 4 inches away from thecargo door of the airplane, the conveyor belt 16 is around 8 inches fromthe cargo door as the front end usually extends beyond the conveyor beltby about 4 inches. This position of the belt loader, however, requirescargo loaders to reach out of the cargo door to grab the cargo from theconveyor belt 16 in order to load that cargo into the airplane. Thisstrenuous and repetitive movement by the cargo loaders typically resultsin injury such as low back pain. However, as will now be described, theteachings of the present disclosure reduce or eliminate these injurieswhile not increasing the risk of damage to the airplane.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, the installation and operation of thebelt loader assembly 10 will now be described. The extension assembly 14is first installed onto the belt loader 12 by inserting the pin member68 of each arm 58 of the extension assembly 14 into one of thecorresponding holes 74 in the frame 18 of the belt loader 12. With thepin members 68 in the corresponding holes 74 of the frame 18, theoperators of the belt loader 12 grasp the handle 56 in the plate 30 ofthe extension assembly 14 and pivot the extension assembly 14 about theaxis of the pin members 68 so as to be in a transport position as shownin FIG. 16. Alternatively, a handle can be disposed in one of the arms58. This handle in the arm 58 can be used to pivot the extensionassembly 14 about the axis of the pin members 68 such that the extensionassembly 14 is in the transport position. In this transport position(FIG. 16), the operators of the belt loader 12 can then properlyposition the belt loader 12 with respect to a cargo door of an airplane.As previously stated, the belt loader 12 is typically positioned suchthat the front end 88 of the belt loader 12 is around 4 inches away fromthe cargo door of the airplane in a horizontal direction. With the frontend 88 of the belt loader 12 positioned around 4 inches from the cargodoor, the operators of the belt loader 12 grasp the handle 56 in theplate 30 of the extension assembly 14 and rotate the extension assembly14 about the axis of the pin members 68 so that the extension assembly14 is in the loading position (shown in FIG. 17).

With the extension assembly 14 in the loading position (FIG. 17), thefirst end portion 32 of the plate 30 of the extension assembly 14 isnearly coplanar with the conveyor belt 16 of the belt loader 12. In thisloading position (FIG. 17), the second side 46 of the spacers 38, whichare mounted to the first end portion 32 of the plate 30, rest on theframe 18 of the belt loader 12, thereby supporting the first end portion32 of the plate 30.

A width W (shown in FIG. 3) of the plate 30 of the extension assembly 14is designed to be smaller than the opening of the cargo door of theairplane so that the second end portion 34 of the plate 30 can beinserted through the open cargo door of the airplane during loading. Ina preferred embodiment, the width W of the plate 30 is about 36 inches.With the extension assembly 14 in the loading position (FIG. 17) and thesecond end portion 34 of the plate 30 inserted through the open cargodoor, the bumper portion 26 either rests on the floor of the airplane oris suspended above the floor of the airplane. In a preferred embodiment,to further aid in the unloading of cargo, the bumper portion 26 of theextension assembly 14 is inserted through the cargo door such that thebumper 76 is just beyond the sill of the cargo door. With the bumper 76just beyond the sill of the cargo door, more space is available forcargo in the airplane.

With the extension assembly 14 in the loading position (FIG. 17), cargocan be loaded into the airplane. As operators place cargo on theconveyor belt 16 of the belt loader 12, the cargo is transported alongthe conveyor belt 16 to the first end portion 32 of the plate 30 of theextension assembly 14. As the cargo moves off the conveyor belt 16 ontothe first end portion 32, the cargo typically has sufficient momentum tocontinue to move onto the second end portion of the extension 14.Lighter cargo, however, that does not have sufficient momentum to movefrom the first end portion 26 to the second end portion 34 is pushedonto the second end portion 34 of the plate 30 by other cargotransitioning from the conveyor belt 16 to the first end portion 26. Aspreviously stated, the second end portion 34 forms the angle α with thefirst end portion 32. In the embodiment shown, angle α is about 15degrees. While the angle α could be greater or less than 15 degrees, ina preferred embodiment, the angle α should be chosen such that whencargo is on the second end portion 34 of the plate 30 awaiting to beunloaded by an operator, the cargo will not slide down the second endportion 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 19, an alternate embodiment of anextension plate 200 suitable for use with the extension portion 24 ofthe belt loader assembly 10 is shown. The extension plate 200 includes afirst end portion 202, an oppositely disposed second end portion 204,and a mid-portion 206 disposed between the first and second end portion202, 204.

The first end portion 202 includes a width W₁ while the second endportion 204 includes a width W₂. The width W₂ of the second end portion204 is less than the width W₁ of the first end portion 202. In thesubject embodiment, and by way of example only, the width W₂ of thesecond end portion 204 is about two thirds the width W₁ of the first endportion 202. In another embodiment, the width W₂ of the second endportion 204 is less than about three-quarters of the width W₁ of thefirst end portion 202.

The extension plate 200 includes a first bend 208 and a second bend 210disposed between a first end portion 202 and the second end portion 204.As best shown in FIG. 19, the first bend 208 provides a first angle α₁between the first end portion 202 and the mid-portion 206 of theextension plate 200 while the second bend 210 provides a second angle α₂between the mid-portion 206 and the second end portion 204. In someapplications of the belt loader assembly 10, the extension plate 200having first and second angles α₁, α₂ may be preferred as it can providefor a more gradual entry of cargo through the cargo door from the beltloader 12.

In one embodiment, the first angle α₁, as measured in accordance withFIG. 19, is greater than or equal to about 2 degrees. In anotherembodiment, the first angle α₁ is in a range of about 2 degrees to about10 degrees. In another embodiment, the first angle α₁ is about 5degrees. In one embodiment, the second angle α₂, as measured inaccordance with FIG. 19, is greater than or equal to about 2 degrees. Inanother embodiment, the second angle α₂ is in a range of about 2 degreesto about 10 degrees. In another embodiment, the second angle α₂ is about5 degrees.

Referring now to FIGS. 20-23, an alternate embodiment of an extensionplate 300 suitable for use with the extension portion 24 of the beltloader assembly 10 is shown. The extension plate 300 includes a firstend portion 302 and an oppositely disposed second end portion 304.

In the subject embodiment, a hinge member 306 is disposed between thefirst end portion 302 and the second end portion 304 of the extensionplate 300. The hinge member 306 allows the second end portion 304 of theextension plate 300 to be selectively repositionable relative to thefirst end portion 302.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 22, the second end portion 304 of theextension plate 300 is pivoted about the hinge member 306 in a downwarddirection relative to the first end portion 302. This configuration maybe advantageous when moving the belt loader assembly 10 toward anaircraft as it may reduce the risk of inadvertently hitting the aircraftwith the extension plate 300. This configuration may also beadvantageous for use with smaller aircrafts in which the cargo door ispositioned behind an engine. In this situation, the first end portion302 of the extension plate 300 can be positioned such that it isgenerally aligned with the conveyor belt 16 while the second end portion304 is pivoted about the hinge member 306 in a downward direction. Thebelt loader assembly 10 can then be positioned close to the cargo doorof the aircraft. With the belt loader assembly 10 close to the cargodoor, the second end portion 304 can be pivoted about the hinge member306 in an upward direction and inserted into the cargo door. Thisconfiguration will allow the extension assembly 14 to be used with beltloaders 12 when an engine of the aircraft would otherwise interfere withthe pivoting of the arms 58 from the transport position to the loadingposition.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 23, the extension plate 300 is shownin the transport position. In this position, the second end portion 304is pivoted about the hinge member 306 such that the second end portion304 is disposed adjacent to the conveyor belt 16. This configuration maybe advantageous as it allows for compact storage of the extension plate300 during transportation and positioning of the belt loader assembly10.

Referring now to FIGS. 24-26, a guard, generally designated 400, isshown. In the subject embodiment, the guard 400 is a high-densitypolyethylene material. It will be understood, however, that the scope ofthe present disclosure is not limited to the guard 400 being ahigh-density polyethylene material as other materials (e.g., sheetmetal, aluminum, plastics, etc.) could be used.

The guard 400 includes a guard portion 402 and a mounting portion 404.In one embodiment, the guard portion 402 includes a handle 406 to assistin assembling and removing the guard 400 to/from the belt loaderassembly 10. In the subject embodiment, the handle 406 is an elongatedthru-hole. It will be understood, however, that the scope of the presentdisclosure is not limited to the guard portion 402 including a handle406.

The mounting portion 404 is adapted for insertion between the connectionportion 28 of the extension assembly 14 and the sidewall 22 of the beltloader 12. While the mounting portion 404 could alternatively be mountedto the frame 18 of the belt loader 12 by a plurality of fasteners, sucha configuration may not be preferred as it would require modification tothe frame of the belt loader 12.

With the mounting portion 404 disposed between the connection portion 28and the sidewall 22 of the belt loader assembly 10, the guard portion402 extends in a generally upward direction from the top surface 20 ofthe frame 18 of the belt loader 12. With the mounting portion 404engaged with the belt loader assembly 10, the guard portion 402 extendslaterally between a portion of the extension plate 200 and a portion ofthe belt loader 12. As gusts of wind have been know to push cargo from abelt loader during loading/unloading of cargo, this lateral extension ofthe guard portion 402 between the portion of the extension plate 200 andthe portion of the belt loader 12 provides protection to the cargo beingtransported through the cargo door of the airplane from wind and therebyreduces the risk of cargo being pushed off of the belt loader 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 27-30, an extender 500 is shown. The extender 500is adapted to provide an additional extension of the extension plate200. The extender 500 includes a first end 502 and an oppositelydisposed second end 504.

A plurality of mounts 506 is disposed on the first end 502 of theextender 500. In the subject embodiment, and by way of example only,there are two mounts 506 disposed on the first end 502 of the extender500. Each of the plurality of mounts 506 includes a first portion 508and a second portion 510. The first portion 508 is connectedly engagedto the first end 502 of the extender. In the subject embodiment, thefirst portion 508 is mechanically connected (e.g., weld, fasteners,adhesive, etc.) to the first end 502.

The second portion 510 of the mount 506 is adapted for engagement with aportion of the handle 56 in the second end portion 204 of the extensionplate 200. In the subject embodiment, the second portion 510 of themount 506 is generally hook shaped to reduce the risk of disengagementof the extender 500 from the extension plate 202. In one embodiment, thesecond portion 510 of the mount 506 is at an angle α₃ relative to thefirst portion 508. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, theangle α₃, as measured in accordance with FIG. 28, is in the range ofabout 4 degrees to about 20 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle α₃is generally equal to the sum of the first angle α₁ and the second angleα₂ of the first and second bends 208, 210, respectively.

While it will be understood that the scope of the disclosure is notlimited to the second portion 510 of the mount 506 being at an anglerelative to the first portion 508, the angle α₃ may be advantageous. Incertain situations, the conveyor belt 16 of the belt loader assembly 10is oriented such that the rear end of the conveyor belt 16 is higherthan the front end of the conveyor belt 16. In these situations, theangle of the extension plate 202 is added to the angle of the conveyorbelt 16. This resulting angle may adversely affect the unloading ofcargo from the conveyor belt 16. In this situation, the extender 500reduces the above-described resulting angle which may improve theunloading characteristics of the conveyor belt 16.

One of the many advantages of the subject embodiment of the presentdisclosure is that as a result of the cargo being transported along theconveyor belt 16, over the first end portion 32 of the plate 30 andinside the cargo door of the airplane, operators will not have to reachoutside of the airplane. This will result in fewer injuries related tostrenuous movements when reaching for cargo.

Another advantage of the subject embodiment of the present disclosure isthat as a result of the cargo being transported inside the cargo door ofthe airplane, there is less likelihood that a piece of cargo would fallto the ground potentially damaging that piece of cargo.

A further advantage of the subject embodiment of the present disclosureis that as the airplane sways during loading due to wind, potentialdamage to the airplane as a result of hitting the belt loader 12 isminimized since the front end 88 of the belt loader 12 is more than 4inches away from the airplane in the horizontal direction. As a resultof the second end portion 34 of the extension assembly 14 in a preferredembodiment being positioned inside the cargo door of the airplane justbeyond the sill of the cargo door, the belt loader 12 can be positionedfurther away from the airplane than what is required by the overnightcouriers. Therefore, the airplanes are less likely to sustain damage asa result of hitting the belt loader 12.

Yet another advantage of the subject embodiment of the presentdisclosure is that harm to the operators is minimized since operatorswill not be required to reach out of the airplane for cargo that ispositioned on a moving conveyor belt 16, which could catch loosearticles of clothing. With the belt loader 12 positioned more than 4inches away from the airplane and the cargo being positioned on thesecond end portion 34 of the extension assembly 14, operators maintain asafe distance from the moving conveyor belt 16 of the belt loader 12.For example, with the length L of the plate 30 being 16 inches in apreferred embodiment, the operators would be about 16 inches from themoving conveyor belt 16.

Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that thescope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrativeembodiments set forth herein.

1. A belt loader assembly comprising a belt loader having a conveyorbelt and a frame; and an extension assembly pivotally engaged with theframe of the belt loader, the extension assembly having: a plate havinga first end portion and a second end portion, each of the first andsecond end portions having a non-moving surface for receiving cargo, thefirst end portion being generally planar with the conveyor belt of thebelt loader, the plate including a hinge disposed between the first andsecond end portions so that the second end portion of the plate canpivot relative to the first end portion; at least one arm having a firstend and a second end, the first end being in engagement with the firstend portion of the plate and the second end being pivotally mounted tothe frame of the belt loader; and a guard removably engaged with thebelt loader, the guard having a guard portion and a mounting portion,wherein the guard portion extends upwardly from a top surface of theframe of the belt loader and laterally between a portion of the plateand a portion of the belt loader.
 2. A belt loader assembly as claimedin claim 1, wherein the plate has a bend disposed between the hinge andthe second end portion of the plate.
 3. A belt loader assembly asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the bend defines an angle of about 15degrees.
 4. A belt loader assembly as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a bumper that is engaged to the second end portion of theplate.
 5. A belt loader assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein thebumper is manufactured from a shock-absorbing material.
 6. A belt loaderassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of the arm of theextension assembly includes a pin member pivotally engaged with theframe of the belt loader.
 7. A belt loader assembly as claimed in claim6, wherein the pin member is a bushing.
 8. A belt loader assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the plate includes a handle disposed in thesecond end portion of the plate.
 9. A belt loader assembly as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the handle is an opening through the second end portionof the extension portion.
 10. An extension assembly for a belt loadercomprising: a plate having a first end portion and an oppositelydisposed second end portion, the plate including a hinge disposedbetween the first and second end portions so that the second end portionof the plate can pivot relative to the first end portion, each of thefirst and second end portions having a non-moving surface for receivingcargo; a connection portion engaged to the first end portion of theplate and adapted for engagement with a belt loader; and a guard adaptedfor insertion between the connection portion and a sidewall of a beltloader, the guard extending laterally over a portion of the plate,wherein the guard is configured to extend in a generally upwarddirection from a top surface of a frame of the belt loader.
 11. Anextension assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second endportion of the plate defines a plurality of handles.
 12. An extensionassembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an extender having aplurality of mounts adapted for engagement with the plurality ofhandles.
 13. An extension assembly as claimed in claim 10, furthercomprising a guard having a guard portion and a mounting portion,wherein the mounting portion is selectively disposed adjacent to theconnection portion.
 14. A method for operating an extension assembly ofa belt loader assembly, the method comprising: pivoting an extensionassembly of a belt loader assembly about an axis of a pin member that isconnectedly engaged with a belt loader such that the extension assemblyis in a transport position; positioning a front end of the belt loaderadjacent to a cargo door of a transport vehicle; pivoting the extensionassembly about the axis of the pin member such that an end portion of aplate of the extension assembly is disposed through the cargo door ofthe transport vehicle; and inserting a mounting portion of a guardbetween a connection portion of the extension assembly and a side wallof the belt loader such that a guard portion extends upwardly from a topsurface of a frame of the belt loader.
 15. An extension assembly asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the guard includes a handle.
 16. Anextension assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the handle is anelongated thru-hole.
 17. An extension assembly as claimed in claim 10,wherein the guard is manufactured from a high-density polyethylenematerial.
 18. An extension assembly as claimed in claim 10, furthercomprising a bumper portion disposed on the second end portion of theplate, wherein the bumper portion includes a bumper.